Anyone had their gallbladder removed - important question, how long with no riding?

[dollymix]

Hi all

I am due to have my gallbladder removed in the next month. It should be done keyhole, but thye can never gaurantee. Problem is, I have two horses.

Has anyone had the operation and if so, how long were you out of action?

How long before you could do the stable work (I am usually DIY Livery) and how long before you could ride safely?

 

[Archiepoo]

hi i had this done a couple of years ago, had the surgery by keyhole ,home the same day , tbh i wasnt right for a good couple of days after the anaesthetic but not bent double or crippled in pain -just sore. should think youd be ok to muck out after two weeks and ride after four but dont forget you arnt allowed to drive for 6 weeks after a general anaesthetic!! good luck and dont worry tooo much -its a big relief to have the surgery!

 

[Fiona_C]

I had this done 8 years ago, op on the Thur, in overnight as had bad reaction to the anaesthetic, home Fri, semi rested all weekend, started gardening on the Wed, and started a riding job on the following Monday.

Not the best course of action for recovery, but luckily I heal fast!! You'll know in yourself when you are ready to start doing things.

 

[maisey belle]

I too was riding after 2 weeks and back at work full time. I was told no driving for 24 hours after general anaesthetic and to only refrain from driving if it was uncomfortable on the wound areas i had keyhole too. I suppose its like everything you get different opinions from different consultants. My best advice is listen to your body and take arnica tablets a month before your op and a month after, i also did this when i had my hysterectomy and was riding 4 weeks afterwards.

 

[billy2]

No personal experience but my farrier was back working 2 weeks after his (thank God!)

 

[Janette]

Six weeks with no driving after a GA is wrong information. Probably after invasive abdo surgery such as a Caesarian because the big muscles have to heal so you can do an emergency stop.

The liver clears the blood of the Anaesthetic in 24 - 36 hours.

I would contact the Doctor/ward for this info if no recent patients contribute, because then you will be sure of getting correct info.

 

[zoelouisem]

I was back working with horses 4 weeks after having mine. Its not so much doing stuff its lifting you have to be more carefull with. Iwas pottering around doing my own horse within 7 days but was carefull how heavy a things i lifted.

 

[Maiko]

I was riding two days after mine (key hole surgery), and driving after 24 hours.

 

[Wundahorse]

Recovery is an individual dynamic that is hard to predict in advance.If you are fit pre op then recovery should be easier.However,anaesthetics can affect people for a while post op and you will need to take some care.It is likely you will feel quite tired and lethargic for a while,and may not even want to contemplate doing too much.Also,despite it being keyhole surgery,it is still a fairly major op,so bear this in mind.You will need to consider giving yourself a few weeks to repair and recuperate.God luck with the op.

 

[supagran]

I didn't lift heavy things like buckets of water or haynets etc for about 3 weeks, no riding for one month. Surgeon told me that it was best to be careful for a month, but it actually takes six months for everything to heal up internally. The one thing I found REALLY helped me in the ten days following surgery were magic knickers!!!! Held everything in place and I was able to get about with no problem. Good luck .

 

[Paddy Irish]

Not gall bladder but ovary removal so mine was just a bit lower down but I had the same key hole procedure that you'll probably have. I didn't have the best time with the anesthetic and I didn't ride for four weeks ( whimp ) riding in itself was fine although getting off was a bit sore so i would steer the boy back around to the mounting block and then get off on to that - not so much of a drop down. Your body will tell you exactly what you can and can't do and don't forget that although key hole seems minimally invasive from the outside they are still going through several layers of muscle and there's a fair bit of trauma on the inside that has to heal , so the less you do to start with the better , don't try to be a hero..good luck , hope it all goes well for you.

 

[dollymix]

Thanks for the feedback everyone... It founds pretty much like the doctor said. Approx 2wks no stable work and riding 2 wks after that. Like others have said though... I will have to just see how I get on and not push my luck. Doctor sdid worst thing to do is rush and then end up with a hernia and another op needed!

Think I will ride my welsh D first too as although she can b a bit whizzy she is very sensitive and seems to know if I need to take it easy... Plus she is considerably smaller to get on and off than my ID!

Thanks again for all the advice. It's just a worry isn't it? Not only do we have to worry about an op and all that entails... But we worry about our neddies and what we ate going to do with them too!

 

[dunthing]

I had mine removed by keyhole surgery, came home the next day and vile ex-husband had me food shopping on my own, that afternoon. I had no ill effects but was furious with him , just another very good reason why he's an ex!!

 

[vickyb]

I had mine removed quite a few years ago now. I wasn't riding at the time, but your insides can take longer to heal than you think. About eight months after the operation I went windsurfing (which I am very bad at). The constant lifting of the sail out of the water caused me such pain I went back to the doctor, and eventually had another scan. There was nothing wrong, but I was told that the muscles were still healing, and the pain was caused by that. (The pain is similar to, but not as bad as, biliary colic). So try and take it easy on the lifting!